About
Artist Bio
Meg Leslie is a multidisciplinary artist based in Ramara, Ontario, specializing in handmade porcelain mosaic tiles. With a passion for storytelling, her work often highlights natural themes, local flora, and fauna. Meg creates unique mosaic backsplashes, fireplaces, and standalone artwork.
Her large-scale public art projects, including Mother Nature Mosaic Mural, The aWEsoME Wall, and Homewood Green Mosaic Art Wall, have brought vibrant, community-driven artworks to public spaces across Ontario.
Taught and influenced by renowned mosaic artists Isaiah Zagar (Philadelphia) and Betsy Schulz (SanDiego), Meg embraces a bold, intuitive approach to design. Her work reflects a deep appreciation for rich colours and textures. Meg belives in the power of public art to transform spaces and connect people.
A graduate of Georgian College’s Interior Design program and a certified Master Naturalist through Lakehead University, Meg seamlessly blends design, nature, and craftsmanship in her work. She has exhibited across Ontario and beyond, earning awards and recognition for her contributions to public art and community engagement.
As an arts educator, Meg shares her knowledge and strives to inspire creativity in others. She is also the founder of Urban Sketchers Orillia, fostering a vibrant sketching community.
Meg’s artistic journey is driven by a love of nature, storytelling, and collaboration.
Learn more about Meg’s work or get in touch at megtleslie@gmail.com
My Creative Process
Welcome to my creative process. Quality is important to me, each and every tile for sale is handmade to order. My tiles are inspired by nature and made with the utmost care, consideration, and inspiration. I am excited to share my process for making hand-pressed and hand-cut tiles as well as my larger mosaic projects.
Inspired by Home
The little town where I live, Atherley, is purely fictional now. It has been absorbed into Ramara Township. I love learning about the rich history of this area that I call home. The Métis settled here in Atherley as it was the literal bridge between the European settlers and the Indigenous people. The fishing weirs at the Atherley Narrows (where Lake Simcoe flows into Lake Couchiching) have always been considered a ‘Sacred Space’ by the local Indigenous people. Fish have always been in abundance here. The fish weirs themselves are one of Canada’s oldest discoveries, said to be 5000 years old! It's easy to be inspired living in such a beautiful natural area, the gateway to Muskoka. I feel that sense of awe in seeing our resident swan family (of nine this year!) which you can see in the picture above. I’m inspired by the brilliant request from neighbours to save the roadside milkweed for the monarch butterflies, or quietly paddling through Lake Simcoe and Lake Couchiching throughout the spring and summer months. It is my hope that my designs bring you that same feeling of awe, inspiration and tranquility.
Hand-Pressed Tile
Hand-pressed tiles are such fun! I will continue to make new designs. The wild daisies tile was inspired by the multitude of daisies growing along the sides of the roads. To create it, I roll out porcelain clay with my slap roller, add the details and then using plaster of paris I will create a mold from that one tile. Then I can press out multiples and glaze them in any glaze colour.
Hand- Cut Tile
Hand-cut custom tiles are each cut out individually from a slab of clay. Each feather is unique just as they are in nature! In building them into a mosaic tile with the porcelain and the mirror, I always think of it like a puzzle that I have created for myself. Isaiah Zagar was my first mosaic instructor and he used to say each piece was a hot potato. That man tiles whole sides of buildings so fast....I take my time to find what feels exactly right, glue down each piece onto the mesh or the wall if I am installing it for you. It's meditative and intuitive. I love that part of the process.
Mesh Backing
My mosaic tiles are mounted on mesh for easy installation and grouting.
The Perfect Fit
My tiles pair perfectly with the Kerdi Board niche insert, sold at your local building store.
Custom Mosaic Designs
I live for custom projects that perfectly fit your home or business. Whether it be designing with size, style or colour in mind I know we can work together to make that perfect piece. The picture above is a custom bathroom border of paisley's created in whites and pale blues, with accents of mirror and personal found objects given to me by the customer. I look forward to the chance to bring my designs into your home. Please get in touch with any custom inquiries.